California Boat Bill of Sale Requirements

California Boat transfer fees and requirements

In California, the title transfer fee is $23 and registration costs $46 base fee plus additional fees. Boat sales are subject to 7.25% base state rate; total can reach 10.25% with local taxes. California does not require notarization for private-party boat transfers. Emission testing is required in California — verify the boat passes before completing the sale.

• Smog certification required for vehicles 4+ model years old
• REG 262 form required for title transfer
• Use tax due within 30 days if purchased from a private party
• Smog transfer fee of $8 applies

Official California bill of sale form

The official California bill of sale form is REG 135 (Bill of Sale). BillOfSaleNow generates a document that meets all California requirements and can be used in place of the official form.

California sales tax on boat purchases

California has a 7.25% state sales tax rate. 7.25% base; county/city adds 0.25–3.25% (total up to 10.75%). Private-party boat sales in California are subject to sales tax. Use tax applies to private party purchases at the same rate. The title transfer fee is $23.

Boat market data and safety information

The most common boat makes in private-party sales are Bayliner, Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Tracker, Yamaha. Average private-party boat prices range from $5,000–$75,000. Boats average 1.8 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Fuel System, Electrical, Steering.

Safety checkpoints for buying a used boat

Before completing a boat bill of sale in California, verify these safety items:

• Verify Hull Identification Number (HIN) matches registration documents
• Check for delamination, blistering, or water intrusion in fiberglass hulls
• Inspect transom for softness or rot — the most expensive structural repair
• Test all bilge pumps, navigation lights, and required safety equipment

Boat insurance and depreciation in California

Boat insurance averages $200–$500/year for boats under 26 ft. Agreed-value policies are preferred over actual-cash-value. Boats depreciate 30–40% in the first 5 years. Aluminum fishing boats hold value better than fiberglass sport boats. Peak season for private boat sales is early spring (march–may) ahead of boating season, with an average of 45 days on market.

Boat registration and titling

Boats are classified as "Watercraft (state-registered) or USCG-documented vessel" for registration purposes. Boats are measured by length, not weight, for registration. Trailers have separate weight-based registration. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to boats.

Boat title transfer rules

Boat ownership transfer uses a Hull Identification Number (HIN), not a VIN. Vessels documented with the U.S. Coast Guard (typically over 26 feet) transfer through federal documentation, not state title. State-titled boats transfer like vehicles with a signed title and bill of sale. State-titled boats use a certificate of title similar to a vehicle. USCG-documented vessels use a federal Certificate of Documentation. Buyers should verify which system applies before closing.

Odometer disclosure for boat sales

Boats are exempt from federal odometer disclosure requirements. There is no mileage or engine-hour disclosure mandate, though documenting engine hours on the bill of sale is considered best practice.

• Applicable law: 46 CFR Part 67 — USCG Documentation of Vessels

Required disclosures for boat sales in California

When selling a boat in California, the following disclosures apply:

• USCG documentation status — vessels over 5 net tons may be federally documented instead of state-titled.
• Hull condition and any history of submersion, grounding, or hurricane damage should be disclosed.
• Trailer inclusion — if the boat is sold with a trailer, the trailer requires its own title transfer in most states.

California bill of sale statistics

BillOfSaleNow has generated 14,217 bill of sale documents for California transactions, with 382 generated this month alone. The most popular vehicle type is car.